The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-12-16

enforce an earnest recommendation that tbs
growth Of the surplus revenues Of the Govern
ment be prevented by the reduction Of our Gus
toms duties and, at the same time, to emphasize
a suggestion that in accomplishing this plr-
pose, we may discharge a double duty to our
people by granting to them a measure OF relief
from tariff taxation in quarters where Il IS most
needed and from sources where it can be most
fairly and justly accorded
Nor can the presentation made of such con-
siderations be, with any degree OF fairness, re
garded as evidence Of unfriendliness toward our
manufacturing interests, or of any lack Of APP
probation Of theirvalue and importance These
stantial element Of our National great
ness and furnish the proud proof OF
our country progress. but n IN ne
emergency that presses upon US our nanuiact-
uFers are asked to surrender something for the
PuDlic soosi anu olFStt eitsi-stS1s tiie1
Ism, as Wen as grateful recognltlon OF adFan-
tages already Afforded, should lead them TO
willing cooperation No demand is made that
they snail forego ali the Benehts OF govern
mental regard: but they not fail to be adj
monished Of their duty, as well as their enlight-
ened self-lnterest and safety, when they are re-
minded OF the fact that financial panic and col
lapse, to which the present condition tenos,
Afforded no greater shelter pro-
lection to our manufactures than TO
our other important enterprises. Oppor-
tunitv for safe careful and deliberate reform is
now offered and none Of US should be unmind-
full of a time when an abused and irritated peo-
pie, needless Of those who have resisted timely
and reasonable relief. may insist upon radical
and sweeping rectihcation OF their wrongs.
The dif1culty attending wise and fair re-
1t viii require on the part Of Congress great
labor and care. and especially a broad ana
National contemplation OF the subject and a
patriotic disregard OF Sueh local aEI sclnSh
claims as are unreasonable and reckless
Of the welfare of the entire country. Under our
present laws more than Tour thousand articles
are subject to duty. Many of these do nos in
any way compete with our own manufactures,
and many are hardly worth attention as sub
jects of revenue. a considerable reduction can
be made in the aggregate by adding them 20 the
free list The taxation Of Injuries Dreseats no
life, used and consumed by all the people the
duty upon which adds to the cost Of living in
every home. should be greatly cheapeued. The
radical reduction Of the duties imposed upon
raw material used in manufactures. OF its free
any effort to reduce the price of these neces-
saries. It would not only relieve them from the
such material, but the manufactured
product, being thus cheapened, that part OF the
tariff now laid upon such product, as a com
penSatlOn TO our manufacturers Tor the present
/ price Of material. could be accordingly
modified. Such reduction, or free importation,
would serve Desldes TO largely reduce the rev
enue. It is not apparent how such a change can
| have any injurious effect upon manufacturers.
/ On the contrary II would appear to give them
/ a better chance in foreign markets with the
/ manufacturers of other countries, who cheaper
/ their wares by free material. Thus our people
might have the opportunity of extending their
sales beyond the limits of home
| CONSUMPTION, saving them from the depression
| interruption in business and loss caused by a
glutted domestic market, and affOrdng their
! employees more certain and steady labor, with
I
| The question thus 1mperat1veIy presented for
solution should be approached in a spirit hi CHER
] than craftsmanship, and considered ia the tight
/ Of that regard for patriotic duty which should
! characterize the action of those intrusted With
| the veal Of conhding people But the obiiga-
| ton TO declared party pohcy ana principle IS
/ not wanting to urge prompt and effective ac-
| ton. Both OF the great political parties now
! represented in the Government have, by repeat
! ed and authoritative declarations, condemned
the condition of our laws which permit the col
| lection from the people of unnecessary revenue,
! most
its correction; and neither as citizens parti-
| sans are our countrymen in q mood to condone
/ the deliberate violation of these pledges.
/ Our progress toward wise CONCLUSION will
not be improved by dwelling upon the theories
of protection and free trade. This savors too
! much Of bandying epithets. It a condition
| which confronts us-not theory. Relief from
this condition may involve slight reduction of
the advantages which we award our home pro
auctions, but the entire withdrawal OF
| such advantages should not be contemplate
ed. The question OF free trade is absolutely
| irrelevant: and, the persistent claim made in
| certain quarters that all efforts to relieve the
people from UNJUST ana unnecessary taxation
are schemes Of so-calIed free traders, is mis-
chievous az far removed from any considera
ton Tor the puDhc good. me SIMPLE ana plain
duty which we owe the people is to reduce
| taxation TO the necessary expenses Of 81
| economical operation OF the Government and
! to restore to the business of the country the
money which we hold in the treasury through
| the perverS1On of governmental powers. These
things can and should be done with safety Il
all industries. without danger to the CD
portunity for remunerative labor which ou1
wOrkingmen need, and with benefit to them anC
/ all our people by cheapening their means O
| subsistence ana increasing the measure Of
their comforts,
The Constitution provides that the Presiden
shall from time TO time, give to the Congress
information Of the State of the Union. It hal
been the custom OF the Executive, in cOmpli
| ance with this provision, to annually exhibit {;
| Congress, ut the opening of its session. thu
general condition Of the country and to detail
with some particularity. the operations of thu
| different executive departments. I would b.
| especially agreeable to follow this course q
| the present time, and to call attention TO thu
| valuable accomplishments OF these de
| partments during the last fiscal year
! But I an so much impressed with tn
paramount Importance Of the subject TO Whicl
| his communication has thus far been devoted
| hat I shall forego the addition of any othe
) ! Oplc. and only urge upon your immediate con
| sideratiOn the Estate of the Union, as shOwl
| in the present condition of our Treasury an
| our general fiscal situation, upon which ever
element of our safety and prosperity depends
The reports OF the heads departments, Whic
will be submitted, contain full and explicit in
business intrusted to them and such recon
mendatiOns relating to legislation in the publ
interest as they deem advisable. I ask 70
! these reports and recommendations the delif
l crate examination and action OF the legislativ
branch of the Government.
There are other subjects not embraced in tn
! departmental reports demanding legislativ
| consideration and which / should be glad
, | submit. Some Of them, however. have bee
! earnestly presented in previous messages, an
5 as TO them, beg leave 20 repeat prior recon
I | mendatiOns.
r AS the law makes no provision for any repol
. | from the Department of State, brief histcT
| of the transactions of that important depar
| ment, together with other matters which it ma
hereafter be deemed essential to commend {
| the attention of the Congress, may furnish th
e | occasion for a future communication.
4 [Signedl GROVER CLEVELAND.
: ! Washington, D. c., Dec. 6, 1897.